Holding us back

April 8, 2005

Dear Sir,

I thank you for affording me the opportunity to give my opinion in the paper. I am a Bermudian studying abroad in university, but I read The Royal Gazette online as often as possible. I often am provoked into discussion over the topics raised in the opinions section, but now see that as a young person it is important I speak my mind.

I would like to comment on the April 5 opinion by Maxwell Burgess entitled “It is time to say enough is enough”.

Although I do agree with Mr. Burgess on our need to address violence and crime in our community, I do not agree with the reason he presents the issue to the public. It is his true intentions that lead many people to not have faith in politicians or the democratic system. In my opinion, Mr. Burgess is using an issue that affects us all to try and boost his own position, and that is never helpful to the society you claim you want to serve.

The real problem in Bermuda now is not politics, but party politics. I might be wrong, but last time I checked, any Member of Parliament could table legislation in the House of Assembly. Now, call me crazy, but if your interests are really the people you serve, then shouldn't you always put forward something that is for their betterment, no matter what the political balance is?

If you are not willing to go against the grain for the right reasons, then you do not deserve a position as a leader of our country. This goes for all elected officials, not just the Government or Opposition.

Every single MP has a responsibility to represent those who put you there not with yourselves in mind, but the people and country of Bermuda.

Party politics and ignorance is holding this country back, not the Union Jack in the top-hoist corner of our flag. It is our reluctance to vote for the candidate, based on their belief in our country, that is leading it down this road of turmoil and uncertainty.

The people we elect are not running with the ideal of a better Bermuda. They are running with the ideal that their party should run Bermuda with a platform, which they must accept if they wish to carry the banner of the party in an election.

People forced to accept views that are not their own does not sound like a democracy to me. People voting based on prejudices instilled in them from birth does not sound like freedom to me. And yet we want to discuss Independence? We are not even independent from each other.

I am guilty also. I am only 20, so I've only been privileged enough to vote in one election. My decision was based on bias towards a party, ignorance of the issues, and personal experience with the candidates.

However, I have since realised my ignorance. Yes, ignorance! There is no other word for it. It is my fault for not knowing the issues, allowing my bias, and not evenly judging both candidates.

It is ignorance that makes us look at an issue, such as crime and violence, and talk about it. And talk about it some more, and not really do anything about it. Ignorance is what makes us blame everything on someone else. Ignorance is why the Police cannot do their job, despite their numbers.

We as a community always have said, “Everybody knows everybody!” We pride ourselves on this. Well if that is the case, then we know who is out there breaking the law.

So, why do we not do anything about it? Ignorance. Why have we not forced our politicians to stand behind our police? Ignorance. We have not stood behind them ourselves, so they are not going to do it for us.

I admit my past ignorance, but it is up to all of us to admit to our ignorance, and get past it. Once we do that, then we will see where the real problems lie in our home.

LIAM B. ANDERSON

Wolfville, Nova Scotia

High-speed chase

April 14, 2005

Dear Sir,

It's Wednesday, April 13, 2005, at 5.33 p.m. and I am on my way home to St. George's, driving along Harrington Sound Road approaching Tom Moore's Tavern. Suddenly, from around a sharp bend, two bikes appear leaning over at 45 degrees at high speed. I estimate 75 plus kph, and clearly racing against each other. A third appeared moments later trying to catch up with the first two, and seemingly a little unsteady. Nothing unusual on our roads, the boys are always doing this hoping not to get caught.

You're right, but these were Police bikes. No siren, no lights, nothing but racing.

PHIL CRACKNELL

Going the wrong way

April 6, 2005

Dear Sir,

I had a terrible experience while driving on Sunday afternoon (April 3), which prompted me to write this letter.

On approaching Scott's Hill Road, going north on Sound View Road, I was about to turn right when a GP car going westward up the hill, sped right through the stop sign on the wrong side of the road.

Had my wife and I approached the corner a couple of seconds earlier, there would have been a serious accident and perhaps even death. I followed the female driver up Scott's Hill Road until she stopped - needless to say I expressed my disapproval vehemently. She did apologise and seemed remorseful.

This is another example of a Government car being used for private purposes. Because of her remorsefulness and apology, I decided not to involve the Police. I also didn't involve the Police because they don't take senior citizens seriously and usually don't respond to complaints.

SENIOR CITIZEN

Sandys

Our loss, their gain

March 6, 2005

Dear Sir,

From the recent articles in the newspaper, concerning the imminent departure of Canon Alan Tilson, it seems that the Anglican Church, in Bermuda, has not learned very much in recent years.

One would like to think that, the Bishop, on seeing the numbers of residents recording that they were Anglicans in the latest Census compared with the considerably lower numbers who actually attend Anglican churches, would have been prompted to look at any parish church whose congregation and attendance had increased and who were performing well and then replicated what worked there, elsewhere in his diocese.

A number of years ago, at St. Anne's Church, a former rector, who had received a church “living” appointment, remained in the position far too long, when he should have retired in everyone's best interest.

He was followed by a Bermudian, who, when attendance was failing dramatically, told the vestry that he didn't care if he preached to an empty church and he almost reached that objective.

The Rev. Michael Davis joined St. Anne's and had the unenviable task of rebuilding that congregation.

You may remember the fallout when the former Government blocked a St. Paul's Church work permit application for a rector, in an attempt to force the St. Paul's Church vestry to hire a cleric that they did not wish to have.

More recently, the Bishop decided to send a very well meaning member of the clergy to St. Mark's Church and we all know what happened there, when the congregation rejected the individual and church attendance cratered, as well as the church finances.

Perhaps a good investigative newspaper reporter could do a study on the Anglican churches in Bermuda. It would be interesting to find out the age of the clergy serving currently at the various churches, when they intend to retire, what Bermudians are currently in training, their ages, if they intend to return home and when will they be experienced enough to take up a local ministry.

The reporter may be able ascertain the difference between the appointment of a “priest in charge” and the appointment of a “rector”, since the Bishop seemed reluctant to divulge the difference when asked at a recent Synod meeting. One suspects that the Bishop may easily terminate a priest in charge but that terminating a rector is much more difficult.

Canon Tilson's successful ministry seems to have caused embarrassment in the ageing Anglican hierarchy and, as a consequence, he needs to go. Canon Tilson has increased the diversified Holy Trinity Church membership, presided over the building of a new church hall, has increased children's Sunday School enrolment and is involving those children's parents and grandparents in church activities.

When disgruntled St. Mark's parishioners left that church, many found a welcome and caring minister in Canon Tilson and continued their Anglican worship and involvement at Holy Trinity Church.

By not applying to renew Canon Tilson's work permit the Bishop is, perhaps, sending a personal message to the former St. Mark's parishioners, who would not bend to his will and who had the audacity to move to Holy Trinity Church. One thing is for sure, Bermuda's Anglican Community's loss will be an overseas Anglican diocese's gain.

The Church hierarchy seems to be following in the footsteps of the politicians. One would expect openness and frankness in the Cathedral church's dealing with church vestries.

Certainly when meeting with the Archdeacon, one does not expect to be told that if anything is documented, in any form, that the Archdeacon's responses may be different than if no record whatsoever is kept.

Perhaps the Bishop has forgotten that when one needs to engage a doctor, a dentist, or a church minister this becomes a very personal matter. Bermudians will exercise their independent thought and will quickly vote with their feet if their needs are not satisfied, especially if an individual they do not want is imposed on them, either by the Government, or the Bishop.

Surely, the recent fiasco at St Mark's must indicate that times have changed and that parishioners will not accept a politically correct candidate, or one of convenience.

It is doubtful that the worshipping grey Anglican Church membership, today, will be replaced by younger persons who do not relate to the current crop of ageing parish church clerics, who are approaching or above age 70, who seem to have no set terms of retirement, whom apparently prefer to stay to the end, like a Pope, intending to remain ensconced in the rectories provided.

If the parents of children are not attending church regularly, there is little likelihood that their offspring will attend either.

Reliable insiders indicate that meetings of the Anglican Synod of Bermuda, which includes the older retired clerics, “make very good theatre” and take forever to reach a consensus.

With due respect to the current Bishop, the downward trend of the Anglican Church here started prior to his watch, however, some of the decisions that he has made have done little to promote harmony in the diocese, or even promote increasing membership and attendance. The Bishop's own church appears to suffer from declining attendance.

Let us all pray that the Bishop's decision to terminate Canon Tilson's ministry at Holy Trinity Church will not be a replay of the St Mark's debacle and result in a further erosion of membership and attendance in the Bermuda Anglican diocese.

SOUTHAMPTON ANGLICAN